President campaigned on "the lessons of Sept. 11,'' says McCain learned.

Posted September 2, 2008 5:35 PM

by Mark Silva

ST. PAUL - President Bush plans to invoke the national security mantra of his own reelection campaign in his satellite-delivered pitch for nominee-to-be John McCain at the Republican National Convention here.

"We live in a dangerous world,'' Bush plans to say. "And we need a president who understands the lessons of Sept, 11, 2001: That to protect America, we must stay on the offense, stop attacks before they happen, and not wait to be hit again.''

This message, that the Republican nominee understands what's at stake in the war on terrorism and that the Democratic candidate - Barack Obama -- might leave the nation vulnerable to assault, is the same warning that Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney made about Democrat John Kerry in 2004.

And Bush plans to say this of the ticket of John McCain and Sarah Palin: Once voters weigh "the judgment, the experience, and the policies of the candidates,'' they really will have no choice.

Bush will address the convention from Washington, via satellite. His planned appearance here on Monday was scrapped when the party threw out the script for its convention in the face of Hurricane Gustav's assault on the Gulf Coast.

On Gustav, which caused a day's delay in convention festivities, the president plans to say: "We are thankful that the damage in New Orleans and across the Gulf Coast was less than many had feared.

"I commend the governors of Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas for their sure-handed response and seamless coordination with the Federal government,'' he will say. "I thank all of the wonderful volunteers who stepped forward to help their brothers and sisters in need.''

On McCain's preparation for the presidency:

"John McCain's life has prepared him to make those choices. He is ready to lead this nation.

"We live in a dangerous world. And we need a president who understands the lessons of September 11, 2001: That to protect America, we must stay on the offense, stop attacks before they happen, and not wait to be hit again. The man we need is John McCain.

"John McCain's life is a story of service above self.

"John is an independent man who thinks for himself. He's not afraid to tell you when he disagrees. ... No matter what the issue, this man is honest and speaks straight from the heart.

"Last year, John McCain's independence and character helped change history. The Democrats had taken control of Congress and were threatening to cut off funds for our troops. In the face of calls for retreat, I ordered a surge of forces into Iraq. Many in Congress said it had no chance of working. Yet one Senator above all had faith in our troops and the importance of their mission - and that was John McCain. Some told him that his early and consistent call for more troops would put his Presidential campaign at risk. He told them he would rather lose an election than see his country lose a war. That is the kind of courage and vision we need in our next Commander-in-Chief.''

And on the ticket of McCain and Palin:

"I am optimistic about our future, because I believe in the goodness and wisdom of the American people. I am optimistic because I have faith in freedom's power to lift up all of God's children and lead this world to a future of peace.

"And I am optimistic about something else: When the debates have ended, and all the ads have run, and it is time to vote, Americans will look closely at the judgment, the experience, and the policies of the candidates - and they will cast their ballots for the McCain-Palin ticket.''